Steam-trap.



W. H. (1I). B. SHAINLINE.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED IuNEI, I9I5.

Patenfed Dec. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WI-I-Nesses.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1| 1915.

Patented Dec. 2l, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'UNTT sTns PATENT on on.N

WILLIAM H. SHAINLINE AND JOSEPH ".B. SI-IAINLINE, OF NORRISTOWN, PENNSYL- VANIA.

STEAM-TRAP.

Application filed June 1, 1915. Serial No. 31,447.

ing to provide a trap of the character stated which will be automatic in its operation, accumulating the water of condensation to a pre-determined level, and then permitting the' discharge of the water either to the boiler or to any other point desired.

A further object is to provide improved means for automatically controlling the 'operation of the trap, and in .various details of construction which result in a trap ywhich will most efliciently perform the function for which it is intended.

IVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features 'of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation partly in section illustrating our improved steam trap. Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa view in transverse section on` the staggered line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged frag'- mentary view in section on the linel H of Fig'. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view indongitudinal section showing the valveL 20 `in one position, and Fig. 6 is a similar'view of the valve 20 in'another position. v

l represents a tank located uponsupports 2 on a base plate 3.

4 Vrepresents a pipe which is connected with anyk suitable steam'apparatus, and so located as to return the water of condensation'to an opening 5 `in the bottom of tank 1.

6 is a pipe which we will assume connects the opening 5 with the boiler, although this apparatus may of course be used to direct the water to any other point desired.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

T-he pipes 4. and 6 have. check valves 7 and 8 respectively therein which permit a flow in one direction only. Ihile we have illustrated a simple form of checky valve, we would have it understood that the invention is not limited in this particular.

9` represents a standard secured to the base plate 3, and having` a bearing 10 'at its upper end for a'lever l1. This lever 11 is. angulaiyin form, and is pivoted or fulcrumed between its ends or kat the point of the angle as shown clearly in Fig. 1. On one end of thel lever 11, a weight 12 is adjustably mounted and secured by a set screw 13. On the other end of the lever 11, a hollow ball' 14 isA provided, .and this ball 14 is connected by a pipe 15 with the top of tankl, andby a pipe 16 with the bottom of tank 1. Portions of these pipes 15 and 16 are ieXible or otherwise constructed so as toA permit the movement of the lever without interfering with the communication of thevball with the tank, and cushion stops 17 and 1S are provided on the base 3 to be engaged by the leverv 11 and cushionthe contact as willbe readily understood. A steam supply pipe 19 connectsV with the top of tanky 1, and we will assume that this y steam pipe connects with the boiler to which the water in tank-1 isI to .be returned. In the pipe 19, and constituting' a portion thereof, avalve casing 2O is located and supports a turning valve 21. This valve 21 has a relatively large passagev 22 therein, and arelatively small passage 23 communicating with the passage 22, and located at right angles to the same. Valve casing 20 has a vent 24 therein through which the steam andvairfin the tank is adapted to escape when valve 21 is in the Aposition shown in Fig. 5, but which vent is closed when the valve is in the position shown in Fig. 6. We reserve the right to make slight changes in the type of steam valve.

Fig. 1 shows the normal position of the trap. As the water accumulates in the tankl 1, it passes upwardly through pipe 16 into the ball v14, and when the water reaches such a level that the ball 14 is filled or partially filled suiciently to overcome weight upward.

l2, the lever 11 will move on its pivot 10, so that the ball end of said lever will move downwardly until it engages the cushion stop 1S. As soon as the ball begins its downward movement, -as it begins to move below' the water level in the tank, it will receive an increased quantity of water, so thatwits downward movement will continue without any interruption. v we believe is also facilitated by the shape ot the lever as the ball end increases its les vcrage while it moves downward, while the weight end decreases its leverage as it moves ln returning to Aits set position, the ufeight end increases its leverage as it moves downward, and the ball end decreases its leverage as it movesupward. As the ball end loses enough water to'allow itvto start to rise, it also allows more water to drain out of, the ball, making it still lighter, therefore, when the lever starts to move in either directionit must continue to the stop.

'Thevalve 2O is'provided onits outer end with a 'crank arm'25 connected by a rod 26 with the ball end of lever 11, so that when thelball moves downwardly, the 'valve 20'V will return to the position shown in Fig. 6, admitting live steam' totank 1 toequaliz'e the pressure with the boilervan'd allow the water' to flow to the 'boiler from tankl.

A'It is to be understood that ourimproved trap vwill'be located Aon a higher level than the boiler to which the water is returned, so that as soonas an equilibrium of' pressure is established, the'water will return to th boiler vby gravity.` s

"The'operation is as follows: With the trap inset position shown, the valve 20 is in the'position shown in Fig. 5, so that as the water accumulates in the tank, the steam or air in the upper portion of the tank is allowed to. escape through vent 24C.v W'hen the water vreaches a level in the tank and in the `ball 14 to overcome weight 12,the lever will-move on its pivotlO until Vthe ball end of lever 11'- is stopped by the cushion stop 8 and through pipe 6 to the boiler. When the level'of water in the tank falls below the desired level so'as to drain the ballV 14 and l lighten this end of the lever, weight 12 will operate to return the parts to normal set position as above described. The operationl is therefore entirely automatic and all forms of packing are ydispensed with.A SuitableA pipe Vvopeningscau be'made in the tank so that the trap can be ,usedy as a lreturn trap,

a non-return trap, a vacuum trap, or a condenser trap, and all openings not needed 1n his movement Y the particular case can be plugged, thereT fore, we have one design of trap which can be connected as either kind.

Various slight changes might be made in the-general form and arrangement of parts an outlet pipe for water communicating with the bottom of ythe tank, i and check valves controlling the How ,of water through said pipe, of a steam pipe communicating with the upper portion of the tank, a standard, an angular lever pivotally connected betweenits ends to the standard, one-end of the lever normally elevated above the Vother end, an adjustableweight on one end of the lever,"a"hollow ball at the elevated end of the lever, flexible pipes connecting the'ball withthe upper and'l'ower portions of the tank, va valve in the rsteam pipe, means connecting the valvewith one end of the angular lever, and means for limiting the pivotal movement of the lever, substantially as described,

'2. The combination with tank, a pipe directing water into the bottom of the tank,

an outlet' pipe for water communicating with the bottom of the tank, and Ycheck valves controlling the flow of water through said pipe, of a steam pipe communicating with the upper portion ot' the tank, a stand ard, an angularlever pivotally'connectedl between its ends to the standard, one end of the lever normally elevated above the'other end, an adjustable' weighton one end 'of the lever, a hollowball at the elevated end ofthe lever, flexible pipes connecting the iio ball with' the upper and lower portions of the tank, a valve inthe steam pipe, means connecting the valve vwith,V one end of the angular'jlever, and ,cushion 'stops located underthe :lever at opposite sides of its pivot,` 'and.limiting the Vmovement of thelever'in both directions, substantiallyas described. p v i 3. The combination with a tank, and

valved inlet and outlet pipes communicating' with the bottom of the tank, of a steam pipe. communicating with the upper portion of thetank, a standard independent of the tank, "an angular lever pivotallyf connected at its angle to the standard, an adjustable' weight4 on one end of the lever, a' hollow ball at the other end of the lever normally located kin a plane above the weight, flexible pipes connecting the ball with the upper names to this specification in the presence and lower portions of the tank, a valve in of two subscribing witnesses. the steam pipe, means connecting the valve `WILLIAM H.r SHAINLINE.

with one end of the angular lever, and means l JOSEPH B. SHAINLINE. 5' limiting the movement of the level` in both Witnesses:

directions, substantially as described. WILLIAM WENNER, In testimony whereof we have signed our ANNIE DURANTE.

Copies of this patent may be' obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

